Proteoglycans and hyaluronan in human fetal membranes

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 184; no. 4; pp. 679 - 685
• Main Authors: Meinert, Mette, Eriksen, Gitte V., Petersen, Astrid C., Helmig, Rikke B., Laurent, Claude, Uldbjerg, Niels, Malmström, Anders
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Elsevier Inc 01.03.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alcian Blue; Amnion; Amnion - chemistry; Biglycan; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; Chemical Precipitation; chorion; Chorion - chemistry; Clinical Medicine; collagen; Collagen - analysis; Decidua - chemistry; Decorin; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Extraembryonic Membranes - chemistry; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hyaluronic Acid - analysis; Hydroxyproline - analysis; Klinisk medicin; Medical and Health Sciences; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; premature rupture of membranes; Proteoglycans - analysis; Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi; Trophoblasts - chemistry; Amnion; collagen; chorion; biglycan; decorin; premature rupture of membranes; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Proteoglycan; Pregnancy disorders; Pathogenesis; Premature rupture of membrane; Pathology; Term pregnancy; Surgery; Collagen; Radioimmunoassay; Distribution; Immunoblotting assay; Delivery disorders; Genetics; Female; Molecular biology; Cesarean section
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1067/mob.2001.110294

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the distributions of major extracellular matrix components, such as proteoglycans, collagen and hyaluronan, in the fetal membranes at term. Study Design: Fetal membranes were obtained from elective cesarean deliveries at term. Guanidinium extracts were analyzed for proteoglycans with alcian blue precipitation, sodium dodecyl sulfate– polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and Western blotting and for hyaluronan with a radioimmunoassay. Collagen was measured by estimating hydroxyproline content. Tissue sections were immunostained for decorin and biglycan and stained for hyaluronan with a biotin-labeled hyaluronan-binding protein. Results: The fetal membranes contained predominantly smaller proteoglycans, such as biglycan and decorin. The amnion consisted of typical fibrous connective tissue with a high concentration of collagen. The amnion was dominated by decorin located in close connection with the collagen fibrils. The chorion was composed of a fibroblastic part containing collagen and decorin and a trophoblastic part mainly containing biglycan. In addition, large amounts of hyaluronan were found, especially in the amnion and in the decidual cell layers. Conclusion: The distributions of proteoglycans, collagen, and hyaluronan in human fetal membranes may explain the biomechanical properties of this tissue. We suggest that changes in the relative proportions of these extracellular molecules are crucial for the proposed maturation process in the fetal membranes during the last weeks of pregnancy. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:679-85.)